Stories

Tom Dodge | DISPATCHThe Philco Burger at the Philco Bar + Diner in the Short North
Crave a good burger? Thirst for a craft beer? Desire a sweet treat? If so, central Ohio has much to offer. Because the casual-dining scene is ever-evolving, we turned to Beth Stallings, editor of Crave, a quarterly magazine published by The Dispatch Printing Company (which also publishes The Dispatch) for ideas. Stallings offers 10 suggestions — all of which have opened in the past 12 months — to whet a variety of appetites.

Fred Squilante | DISPATCH PHOTOSThe sashimi at Kihachi Japanese Restaurant
The fine-dining options in central Ohio continue to expand. Since the Dining Guide published last fall, several white-tablecloth restaurants have opened: Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants, Chef Honda Restaurant, Luce Nuovo, Manifesto Tuscan Grato and Scotch Bar, the Plate and Sakana Sushi Asian Fusion, to name a few. Still, much of the action has been in the upscale-casual arena, with places such as Stars Grill, Hae-Paul’s and the Crest Gastropub preparing a tremendous amount of their offerings from scratch but charging comparatively modest prices.

For many hardworking folks, a night of relaxation often includes going out to dinner. But what about those whose job is to cook for others and whose workplace is a restaurant? Recently, The Dispatch asked six central Ohio chefs about where they dine on their days — or nights — off.